Mermaid socks

Despite the time frame in which they made it to the blog, both the cotton socks for Salvbard and these mermaid socks were selected with project spectrum in mind. I didn't really manage to do anything for August, but blue for July I totally had covered. But hey the color for September is yellow, so I guess it all works out.

And here is a slightly larger detail shot of the cable detail. (Click to embiggen):

Yarn: Faery Fiber Superwash Merino 2ply Fingering Weight in Mermaid

Yarn Supplier: Faery Fiber

Needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm

Pattern: 'brainless' by Yarnissima (free Rav download)

Modifications: I lengthened these to use up more yardage, hiding the increases in the cables. (See the picture full size to really appreciate the cleverness there.)

Generally I am a big fan of stockinette socks for purse knitting, but given that I was mostly working on these on vacation I went with something just this side of more interesting since it had the cable running up the side. Pretty. I think I would like them even more in a yarn with less variegation though.

Sadly this particular yarn base was discontinued by Tammy's supplier, because I did really like working with it. It had good stitch definition, wasn't splitty, took the colors well, and was even machine washable. Her use of color is fantastic in general, and I am particularly fond of these colors. I actually had several days when I was working on these, in which I looked down only to discover that I matched my knitting.

Anklewarmers

Project Spectrum does a great job of getting me to look at my yarn stash with fresh eyes. This was a skein from Mind's Eye Yarn's sock club way back in Aug '08. At the time, Lucy said it was inspired by Black Eyed Susans and Daisies.

Yarn: Mind's Eye Yarns Merino/Tencel

Yarn Supplier: Mind's Eye Yarns

Needles: US 1 - 2.25 mm

Pattern: 72sts, 9” cuff, 2X2 rib for leg and down instep, heel-stitch heel flap

I got a special request for "toe-less socks to keep my ankles warm" from one of my best friend's mom. After a few more inquiries I figured out what basically looking for. They should have about an 8" cuff (these have 9" un-stretched but should be about 8" when worn), and should stop mid-foot. I ribbed them down the foot to allow for variations in ankle shape and foot width. She lives several hours away so I couldn't just stop by to take a look for myself. I hope they fit!

I wasn't thrilled with how these pooled across 72 stitches, as it is a bit busy for someone not used to hand knit socks from hand dyed yarn. So the next step is sadly to over-dye them slightly. So they will still keep the variation from this colorway, but the differences will be toned down some. To the dye-bath!

Thick Camo Socks

Hey it has been officially summer for a few days, where are the pictures to kick of the Summer of Socks?

There we go, much better. These were a quick knit given the large gauge (for socks). I had been thinking about making these into socks since I designed my sister that pair of Seven of Hearts for my sister (almost 4 years ago!), but Project Spectrum was a great push to get me to actually make them.

Yarn: Art Yarns Supermerino in color 131

Yarn Supplier: Little Knits

Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm

Pattern: Riverbed Master Pattern

Pattern Source: New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One by Cat Bordhi

This is the second time I have knit this master pattern. The first time was for my Cancer socks. I have to say that I am really taken with this variation of a toe-up standard heel flap sock. Next time though perhaps I should try another of the clever architectures Cat Bordhi has in this book. There are so many great ones to choose from.

Are those socks?

For just over a year I have had the pleasure of having one of my oldest friends live with us. He has many endearing qualities, but the man has freakishly large feet. And I just started a pair of socks for him. These are his second pair actually Hmm I don't seem to have blogged the first pair. I should fix that later. Anyways, clearly I love him lots.

The pocket knife in this picture, included for scale, is 4" / 10cm long when folded. Yup, these are big socks.

I was recently asked what I was making, and I replied that I was knitting another pair of men's size 15 socks for my housemate. "Oh," came the reply "I wasn't sure if you were knitting hats two at a time." I admit that cracked me up. They really do have approximately the circumference of a baby's head.

If Anyone Were To Ask Us What Our Favorite Color Is

Anyone know where the post title comes from?

Green is the Project Spectrum color for June, and that is one color that I do not have a shortage of. Apparently my love for green is not a subtle thing. Deep emeralds and bright greens are preferred, but there is also a fair bit of springy and teal-y greens as well.

Also towards the end of this month is the start of Summer of Socks. Hmm more sock knitting plotting must be done...

Red Gauge Square

It seems that all of a sudden there are a ton of babies on the way among my friends. It is funny how those sorts of things go in waves. So I have been working on a baby sweater in red, in honor of Project Spectrum, and since red is a fantastic gender neutral color.

Look I did a gauge swatch and everything!

Fortunately I am fairly well along on this project, but I am still a bit dubious about whether I will able to eke out the finish before the end of the month. Any one feel like taking odds?

Project Spectrum - May 2011

I didn't manage to post early in the month, but I was really excited when Lolly announced Project Spectrum 5. I have found it really inspiring every year that I have participated. May is all about the color red, so I did a quick rummage through the stash and found a bunch of red to work with.

I wish that it looked like I was going to get through more of that pile, but I am so happy with my other major project this month, which coincidently is themed in red and black. Two of the people closest to me in my life are getting married in a week. So many details, so little time, but so much love to them both.

Orange!

For some reason I haven't really been knitting socks in recent months, but it just doesn't feel like summer without it. So on a hot day last week I started this pair of Broadripples, which is a pattern I have meant to try forever.

Pattern: Broadripple by Rob Matyska
Size: 8" cuff, women's US size 9
Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Fixation Solid color 7192
Supplier: Mind's Eye Yarns

I have a fair bit of Cascade Fixation in my stash, but in the past I found in mildly annoying/unpleasant to knit with. I tend to knit tightly (stress!), and I could not master the tension that everyone told me to relax to when using this yarn. The needle size I ended up using was huge, but this has been my best knitting experience to date with this yarn. I may be using it again soon, in light of this discovery.

Geode Shawl

Many moons ago when I finished my Masters, I stopped by Mind's Eye Yarns to pick up a small treat for myself. At the time, Lucy had just gotten in a shipment of Jojoland Harmony, and I was absolutely smitten. I had never worked in cobweb weight yarn before, but the long color transitions were so beautiful that I decided that this would be my reward. I didn't even ask about price, knowing Lucy's prices are always fair. So I was shocked to find that it was only a few dollars... for 880 yards!

When I started it at the beginning of March, my main concern was about whether or not the long color transitions would be long enough when working in crochet (which eats more yarn than knitting) by the time I got to the bottom of the shawl. But in the end it was no problem. This shawl took exactly one ball, and it looks good all the way to the bottom edge.

Pattern: Eva's Shawl (pdf) by milobo
Yarn: Jojoland Harmony in C07
Hook: 2.75 mm (C)

Ultimately I found the fine weight not to be as big of a problem as I worried it would be. The only concern was that process of crocheting provides a bit more friction on the yarn than the process of knitting does, so I had to be fairly gentle with the yarn as I worked.


Looking at this pattern on Ravelry, I saw several comments about people who opted out of the final edging, but in looking through the pictures I couldn't find a good picture of what it looked like. Going with the advice that it took more yarn than expected, I set out to give it a shot, and I think the ultimate success on this edging has everything to do with how you block it. I did mine with an extra piece of yarn. After blocking it retains that open, delicate look that is the perfect touch to edge this shawl.


The concentric layers of color of this shawl are so perfect for the simplicity of this pattern. Between the two it reminds me of those geode slices you sometimes see for sale as sun catchers. (Did you know those are often dyed? I learn so much writing for this blog.) Chalk this one up as another "earth" inspired project.

Mer-tinis under the Lake?

Round 1 socks complete! It is Sock Madness time again, and none too soon. I have been needing to crank out some more socks recently.

Yarns: Mind's Eye Yarns Tencel/Merino sock yarn
& Lang Jawoll Superwash Solid
Needles: US 1
Pattern: Tropical Mer-tini (Sock Madness '09 Round 1)

I am not normally a huge fan of knit-purl patterns, but this one is interesting in that it is based on a quilting pattern called the Drunkard's Path:

But these socks have another point of interest. Although the heels look like a basic eye of the partridge heel flap heel, they are actually a type of replaceable heel. (Although the pattern calls it an afterthought heel, it actually has more in common with a forethought heel.)

Neat! Now to work on something other than socks for a few days. (BTW if you get the title of this post, you totally get a cookie.)

Baby Socks

Even though I have been doing more crochet this month, I have still been doing a little knitting. Specifically, I have been knitting baby socks, as my sister has announced that she is pregnant again!
(Amusingly while Salvbard had a euro in his pocket for scale, he did not have a US quarter. That we had to dog out of the change jar.)
The first pair is a basic pair done with no particular pattern over 44 stitches. The second is part of a continuing effort to actually knit from the books in my library. These Infant's Fancy Silk Socks are from Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. Little socks go so quickly!

National Crochet Month '09

Did you know that March is both National Craft Month and National Crochet Month? Well I am always up to a lot of craft, so I have been trying my hand at a little more crochet. Besides the chucky alpaca hat I have 2 other projects on the hook.

The first is a baby sweater in some un-loved stash yarn:

And the other is a shawl I plan on wearing to at least one of my brothers' weddings this year:

The latter in particular is driving me a little crazy though. I have never crocheted anything so fine. The Jojoland Harmony is listed as cobweb weight, so I need to pay attention. The yarn itself is lovely though, and the price point amazing!

Chunky Alpaca Hat

With the start of March we have begun a new round of Project Spectrum. This year each of the 2-month periods are focused on a different cardinal direction. We begin with Earth.

NORTH (March/April)
Color: Green
Material: Stones/Gems/Rocks
Season: Winter
Element: Earth

So I dug around in the stash and rediscovered a single skein of Misti Alpaca Chunky that I have had plans for and cast on. The color was absolutely perfect for my thoughts about this element at the moment. It is that pale yellow green of tentative green buds. Whenever it is cold enough to wear an alpaca hat, I need a reminder that spring will follow before too long.

Yarn: Misti International Misti Alpaca Chunky in color 1477
Yarn Supplier: the (now closed) Knitting Room
Pattern: Big Hat by Rosemary Waits
Hook: 6.0 mm (J)

Modifications: Because my yarn was not as heavy a weight as recommended I did one extra increase round (dc twice into same stitch, dc into each stitch 3 times repeat) and then continued in pattern until out of yarn. Top down hats are awesome like that!

I have always been slightly dubious of double crocheted hats. I think that they just looked like the wind would blow right through them, but when I saw this pattern when it was first posted on Rosemary's blog, I knew I had to make it. And the slightly fuzzy, warm alpaca actually compliments the pattern more than I had anticipated. This hat has quickly become a favorite, and I have a friend who already is plotting to try to steal it. Maybe I should think about making another one...

Baby Boy Guernsey

The astute among you may notice the change in my blogging schedule. Due to my schedule this semester, I am less likely to post on MWF than I used to.

Salvbard's co-workers continue to have babies, and I keep knitting trying to keep up. The latest was a beautiful (but huge) 10 lb baby boy. So I am glad I opted for a larger sweater size for him. There is nothing quite like a hand-knit gift that never even fits.

Pattern: Infant Guernsey Sweater C-451 by Joyce Bernard

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK

Yarn Supplier: Spark Craft Studio

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm

The little boy who is getting this sweater already has a big sister, so mom specifically requested something blue with no wool. (She is allergic.) Digging through my stash, I wasn't finding a lot to fit the bill, until I noticed this yarn. Although it is a nylon/acrylic blend it is really nice stuff: very soft and (more importantly) machine washable and dry-able.

Since the gauge was a tiny bit smaller than called for by the pattern (light-worsted), I opted to use the 12 month number of stitches for a 6 month sized sweater. The body of the sweater I lengthened a tiny bit, but otherwise all the dimensions were that of the 6 month size. Hopefully the 19" chest circumference with fit for a little while anyways.

I have made this sweater pattern twice before, and it is really one of my favorite gender-neutral patterns. I bought it early in my knitting life before I tended to look on-line for a pattern first, but it has been a great investment.

End of Earth

We are coming to the end of the Project Spectrum 3's "earth" theme. I realized that most of crafting for this theme was also Slytherin colored. What can I say, green and silver/grey are a great combination.

I am a little disappointed by my own turn out for this round, because I do love green and brown so much (though I am not so big on the metallics). I am not sure how much more you will see from me on the theme of "air" though either.

Slytherin Ripple Afghan

I have an announcement. They Slytherin ripple afghan is finally done. I am so incredibly happy with it! I can't believe that this took me 9 months. It just goes to show that projects finish a whole lot more quickly when you actually work on them regularly.

Hook: J / 6.00 mm
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Grey Heather and Dark Sage
Pattern: Easy Ripple Afghan

Modifications: I cast on more stitches than the pattern to have a 66" wide blanket. (Sorry I don't remember the exact number.) Although I plan to use this blanket on a twin bed I really like extra to either side so that I am not left with drafts when I roll over.

This is my second crocheted afghan (the Sampler afghan being the first), but I am so much happier with this one. It is the perfect size, not too busy, but with just enough visual interest. Plus it is in great colors. What is not to love?

Holly Berry Socks

Today's socks are another project from swapped yarn. I only received 67 g og fingering weight, so I wanted to knit these socks toe-up to get the full yardage out of them, especially since the yarn is not machine washable to put in the memory blanket.

Although these aren't mostly green, they seem like a good Project Spectrum project with their flora color inspiration. I was a little worried that the Holly Berry colorway would strike me as too Christmas-y for year round wear, but I find I really like it. If the yarn was not long discontinued I would consider purchasing more. It makes a nice soft sock without too much pooling.

Yarn: Knit Picks Sock Garden in Holly Berries (discontinued)
Supplier: Somerville Yarn Swap
Pattern: Two At Once Toe-Up Socks
Needles: US Size 1 / 2.5 mm

I didn't actually follow the above pattern specifically, but it is the same construction method. I did these two at once, toe up with a peasant heel. I know I did a different toe, because I did my weird provisional wedge toe-thing, but the concept is essentially the same.

Ripply Retro Socks

Wow I am totally swamped at work. I took a day off yesterday to go out to the Webs Tent Sale with two blogless, but Ravelry-enabled ladies. It was so kind of them to let me car-pool out with them, and I had lots of fun. This afternoon I need to go process a bunch of research data (yay data!), but before I do I thought I would quickly post an FO from last week. I finally finished up the Sock Madness Round 5 socks.

Pattern: Hippy Ripply Retro Socks
Yarn: Crazy4Dyeing SlenderSock in Slytherin
Supplier: HSS3 package
Needles: US Size 1 / 2.25 mm

This Sock Madness Round 5 pattern has been made available by the designer for free at the link above. Also as a PSA, they have released the Round 3 pattern as a free Ravelry download if anyone as interested.

I really liked working with this yarn. It is quite sproingy, and the yardage was quite good. Unlike many Hogwarts house colored yarns, this yarn is dyed as a variegated rather than a self-striping. A definitely winner, and I would recommend it to those in the market for Hogwarts yarns.

I have more to share later, but for now back to the data.

Slytherin Spiral Hat

I realized recently that although I own many magazines that I had never actually made anything from any of them. Well no longer! This cute hat was in the latest copy of Interweave Crochet that I picked up from Mind's Eye Yarns at the Gore Place Festival. (Speaking of which, love it! Great job Interweave.)

Pattern: Spring Spiral Hat by Chloe Nightingale
Pattern Source: Interweave Crochet, Spring 2008
Yarn: Cascade Fixation
Hook: F / 3.75 mm

I really like this hat (in Slytherin colors no less), which I had planned on something to throw on when I ran out of the house for quick errands. Chiquita loved it though and seems to have claimed it. I guess I will just have to make another one for me.

The Fixation is great to crochet, which I hadn't tried before. That is great to know, since I have a bunch of it, and it is not my favorite yarn to knit.

Gryffindor Striped Socks

Round three of Sock Madness completed! Onward to round four.

When I had originally bought the yarn for these socks, I was hoping that we would do them early in the competition so that they would still fall under the Project Spectrum's "fire" months. Oh well, but by the time I had finished the legs they looked un-mistakenly Gryffindor to me.

Pattern: Slippin 'Stripin' Socks
Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow in Campfire and Sunset
Needles: US Size 2/2.75 mm (Thanks again Patonga!)
Method: 2@once magic-loop

This yarn is the closest that I have come to purchasing yarn for Sock Madness, as I used Ravelry to swap for the orange. Otherwise though I have been doing pretty well with working from stash. Yay! And since it was double stranded, these used more than 900 yards of stashed lace weight alone!

I love the premise of this sock, and I hear that the pattern will be available for free soon after Sock Madness. (Would those of you not affiliated be interested in me posting when these patterns become available?) I think that the average sock-knitter with at least a few pairs under their belt would be able to take the concept of double stranding lace weight in alternate strand combinations to make a great sock though.

This particular pattern had a lot of areas that I found a wee bit confusing , especially regarding the heel. I also got the stripe sequence "wrong" though ultimately that ended up being unimportant and resulted only from my own poor reading of the stripe instructions.

Due to the number of rows required in the foot for the competition these are way too long for me, which is sort of funny given that I knit really tightly and have a relatively high row gauge. A little bird has told me that there is a Gryffindor I know with appropriately sized feet though, so I will mail these out in the next few days as a surprise.